MARTYN Margetson will team up with an old pal when he joins Cardiff City on their pre-season tour to Scotland next week.

It's been 16 years since Margetson last played alongside Andy Legg, when they were both promising young players at Baglan in the Port Talbot League.

Both were born in Baglan and Margetson said: "Andy and I played for the local senior team when we were pretty young. I was 14 years old and it was just before Andy signed for Swansea City.

"I know Jason Bowen from Wales youth and under-21 teams, plus a few other Cardiff players."

Cardiff's move for Wales B international Margetson - he arrives on a week's trial with a view to signing --came at just the right moment.

Margetson was feeling down, one of the lowest points in his long career, when Lennie Lawrence made contact `out of the blue'.

His parting from Huddersfield Town, where he was first choice last season, was bitter and Margetson said emphatically: "The way I was handled, the way I was treated can only be summed up by one word - shambolic.

"Huddersfield offered me a new contract, but it took seven-and-a-half weeks to finalise the details and when we had agreed I went off on holiday. We faxed the contract back as soon as I returned, but it was withdrawn four days later.

"The parting between Huddersfield Town and I was far from happy and that's disappointing."

While Margetson was away on holiday, Mick Wadsworth was appointed manager after Lou Macari's departure - and that was the key in the change of mind.

But Margetson's depression over the way his exit from the McAlpine Stadium came about was shortlived - thanks to Lennie Lawrence.

His call has delighted Margetson and wife Victoria, who are both from South Wales. They would love to bring up children Matthew, aged four, and Ben, aged one, near their relatives.

"I've lived away from Wales for 15 years, ever since I finished at school and went to Manchester City," said Margetson.

"When the call came from Cardiff it was a fantastic moment, a dream come true. The children's grandparents have everything crossed that this works out in the way we want - I would certainly love the chance to play for Cardiff."

Margetson was back-up to Nico Vaesen at Huddersfield, but broke through after the Belgian was sent off at Blackburn and later took over as first choice.

There is no doubt he would start as number two at Cardiff City behind Neil Alexander and said: "I have no problem with having to fight for a place.

"I played at the other end to Neil twice last season and he is a quality goalkeeper. If I do join Cardiff my job initially would be to put Neil under pressure and I would do that to the best of my ability."

Margetson will be with Cardiff City at Merthyr Tydfil tomorrow and goes on their three-match tour to Scotland next week, while his arrival on a week's trial puts a Bluebirds' move for available Grimsby Town goalkeeper Danny Coyne in doubt.